Air heater utilizing cooking stove heating elements



Dec. 19, 1 967 c. D. OSBORNE AIR HEATER UTILIZING COOKING STOVE HEATING ELEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. 5. 055%:

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 19, 1967 c. D. OSBORNE 3,358,670

AIR HEATER UTILIZING COOKING STOVE HEATING ELEMENTS Filed Oct. 20, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 1 8a 94 74 //S //////X/// /f 64 86 Q I02 23 l 5 9a INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1967 c. D. OSBORNE 3,358,670

AIR HEATER UTILIZING COOKING STOVE HEATING ELEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 20, 1965 i I Wu V wwfi hw hwu CWIWHIIIII IIIJIIIIIJ n u m m i T l i l h P+|+| ,I l T (L wl IIH H/ PPM [0: Wu w J [I l I IV.\ J I; ll .l I! Z a 4 a IIIL IIIII II w a w V 5 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 19, 1967 c. D. OSBORNE AIR HEATER UTILIZING COOKING STOVE HEATING ELEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. 64/121 55 fl. flJEHEA/E ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 19, 1967 c. D. OSBORNE AIR HEATER UTILIZING COOKING STOVE HEATING ELEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct.

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BY MW ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Heating apparatus including a hollow frame having at least one normally upright wall and a divider wall extending transversely thereacross to define a bottom compartment open at its lower end and an upper heated air compartment, the bottom compartment receiving therein the main body portions of a plurality of conduits each having a pair of opposed open ends supported on, respectively, the divider wall and a wall of the frame. Those ends of the conduits supported on the divider wall opening into the heated air compartment, and the opposed ends thereof opening into the ambient atmosphere. Blower means including a rigid air discharge conduit is supported on a frame wall for connection with and rotation relative to a heated air discharge opening formed in the wall and communicating with the heated air compartment, whereby rotation of the blower and consequently its conduit to a preselected position effects heated air discharge in a desired direction.

This invention relates to a space heater, and more particularly to a device which utilizes heat energy from a pre-existing heat source, such as a kitchen stove, to increase the temperature of a moving stream of air in order to provide a means for warming the interior of a house, trailer or the like.

Devices are known to the prior art that may be positioned on top of or within a kitchen stove in order to provide a moving stream of warm air into a closed living area, but it has been found that these devices are generally inefficient and uneconomical. The prior art devices are generally characterized by a heating element, a fan and conduit means taking in cool air and expelling warm air. Several modes of warming the moving stream of air are provided by the prior art, the most generally used being to heat a more or less planar surface and draw the air across the surface. Another manner of warming the air is to provide a heated conduit running transverse to the stream of moving air.

The stove of the instant invention may be used for emergency or auxiliary heating in regions of severe winters or may be used in lieu of a more complicated and expensive heating system in an area of mild winters. The instant invention has a particularly advantageous use in mobile homes used in areas of mild climates since it is necessary only to remove the chill within the living area, even during the colder months.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a space heater for use in conjunction with a heat source, such as a kitchen stove or the like, which utilizes to a maximum degree the heat produced by the source.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a removable space heater which may be positioned upon an electric, gas or butane stove to provide a source of warm air.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a stove having a built-in space heater.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide space heaters that may be placed over a single or a plurality of heating elements.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a blower or fan in conjunction with a space heater for forcibly delivering a stream of Warm air into a living area.

A more specific object of the instant invention is to provide a space heater having a plurality of metallic conduits interconnecting a cool air inlet means and a heated air outlet means arranged such that a heat source may be positioned closely adjacent the conduits, thereby warming the air flowing therethrough.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction and operation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of the instant invention, certain parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the space heater of FIGURE '1, certain parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a left side elevational view of the space heater of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a right side elevational view of the space heaterof FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a representative cross-sectional view of the space heater of FIGURES l to 4 inclusive, the arroWs indicating the flow path of a moving stream of air;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of another form of space heater made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the space heater of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of a stove equipped with a space heater made in accordance with the instant invention, certain parts being broken away for clarity of illustrations;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional View of the stove of FIGURE 8 taken along line 9-9 thereof and viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 10 is a partial rear view of the device showing another form of mounting for a forced air blower, showing a toothed plate attachable to a forced air blower;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the mounting of FIGURE 10 taken substantially along line 10-10 viewing in the direction of the arrows showing in dashed lines an attached forced air blower; and

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the mounting of FIGURE 10 taken substantially along line 1212 thereof viewing in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, and particularly to FIGURES 1 to 5 inclusive, there is shown generally at 10 a space heater having as its major components a frame designated generally at 12, an air inlet indicated generally at 14 communicating through an air conduit means indicated generally at 16 to a heated air compartment designated generally at 18 and a heated air outlet shown generally at 20 communicating through a blower or fan means designated generally at 22 into a living area with an alternate heated air outlet being indicated generally at 23.

Frame 12 includes an upstanding front wall 24, a pair of upstanding parallel side walls 26, 28, a rear wall 30, a top wall 32 with walls 24, 26, 28, 30 forming a bottom peripheral edge 34 and an open bottom shown generally at 36. As may be seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5, a heat source shown generally at 38 including a heating element 40 is positioned within open bottom 36 with peripheral wall 34 supporting heater 10 upon an upper surface 42 of a kitchen stove.

Heating element 40 may be an electrical or flame type heating element and is connected by a conduit 44 to a source of electrical energy or to a gas or butane source. Should heat source 38 be of the flame type, a flue outlet 46, 48, St is provided in each of walls 26, 28, 39 to allow for the release of combustion products of heating element 48. A pair of heat reflectors 52, 54 connect front and rear walls 24, 3t) and are inclined toward the heat element receiving area as may be seen in FIGURE 2 to reflect radiant heat energy toward conduit means 16 as more fully explained hereinafter. In the event that heat source 38 is of the flame type, reflectors 52, 54 will act to deflect or channel heated combustion products toward conduit means 16. It should be appreciated that depressions normally exist in a stove surface adjacent a heating element which will allow the entrance of combustion supporting air beneath peripheral edge 34. In the event that any kitchen stove is not so equipped, cutouts may be prvided in the lower portion of any of walls 24, 26, 28, 36 to allow the entrance of air, with a plurality of spring biased clips 35 being provided to secure frame 12 to the underlying stove.

Cool air inlet 14 includes an initial circular section 56 and a transitional section 58 mounted on rear wall 311 with the exhaust end of section 58 being rectangular in configuration as may be seen in dotted lines in FIG- URE 2. Communicating with transitional section 58 of inlet 14 through rear wall 30 are a plurality of tubular metallic conduits 60, constituting conduit means 16. Conduits 69 are initially substantially straight across open bottom 36 of frame 12 to closely overlie heating elemeat 49 and bottom peripheral edge 34. Conduits 6% then curve upwardly and communicate with heated air compartment 18 as may be seen in FIGURE 5. It will be seen that energy emitting from heating element 40 will directly heat each of conduits 6t) and consequently the air flowing therethrough. Since conduits 60 are of a metallic nature and preferably of copper, steel or the like having a high index of thermal conductivity, substantially the entire length of conduits 60 will be elevated in temperature. Accordingly, the air flowing therethrough will be warmed in an efficient and expeditious manner.

Heated air receptacle 18 is bounded by the upper ends of side walls 26, 2%, front and rear walls 24, 30, top wall 32 and a bottom wall shown generally at 62 including a horizontal section 64 extending between side walls 26, 28 and connectel to front wall 24 and through which metallic conduits 69 exit. Bottom wall 62 of heated air compartment 18 also includes a downwardly inclined section 65 secured to a transverse edge of horizontal section 64 and fastened to rear wall 30 as may be seen in FIGURE 5.

Air entering heated air compartment 18 may exit through heated air outlet 20 which includes a substantially circular opening 70 in rear wall 30. Alternate outlet 23 includes a straight section '74 extending throughout the width of front wall 24 and pivotally connected thereto by a hinge 76. Releasably securing straight section 74 to top wall 32 is an Lshaped spring member 78. As may be seen in FIGURE alternate outlet 23 may be opened with straight section 74 being positionable parallel to front wall 24 by disengaging spring member '78 from top wall 32. It is apparent that air outlet 20 may be used when fan 22 is operating to discharge a rapidly moving stream of hot air from heater It) When alternate outlet 23 is closed. When alternate outlet 23 is utilized, blower 22 is turned off with the heated air discharge from heater resulting from convection through outlet 23.

Providing the energy necessary to move a stream of air through inlet 14, conduits 60, and heated air cornpartment 18 is blower 22 including a cylindrical casing 80 mounted coaxially with outlet 20 by a connecting means shown generally at 82 including an S-shaped member 84 overlying an annular flange 86 of cylindrical casing 80 with S-shaped member 84 being secured to rear wall 30 by a frictional fastener 83. Blower 22 is preferably provided with a squirrel cage fan shown generally at 90 having a centrally disposed air inlet 92 disposed adjacent circular opening and hot air receptacle 18 with a plurality of blades 94 forcibly ejecting heated air through a discharge conduit 96. Because fan 90 is preferably of the squirrel cage variety, frictional fasteners 88 may be reached by removing top wall 32 and inserting a screwdriver into the central opening of fan 90. The removability of screws 88 allows casing to be fully rotatable on back wall 33 to position discharge conduit in any suitable direction.

t should be understood that discharge conduit 96 may be of any suitable configuration and may be either flexible or stiff to distribute heated air in any desirable direction. An electrical motor 98 is fixedly mounted by frictional fasteners 130 on a planar transverse wall 102 of cylindrical casing 80 with a suitable drive shaft 104 connecting squirrel cage blower to motor 98. Any suitable electrical connection is made between motor 98 and a source of electric energy to drive squirrel cage blower and thereby induce a stream of moving air through heater 10.

Squirrel cage fan 99 may be replaced by a conventional propeller type blade to alternatively pull air through heater 19. By using a propeller type fan and reversing the rotation thereof, it will be noted that air may be introduced into compartment 18 and then through conduits 60 where the heating step takes place. If such an arrangement is provided, it will be desirable to provide some type of air distribution duct in lieu of member 14.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, there is shown generally at a dual burner space heater which is constructed along the same principles as heater 10. Accordingly, reference characters used in describing the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 5 will be used to de nominate like elements, with distinguishing characteristics being more fully pointed out.

Heater 110 is equipped with a frame shown generally at 112 including a pair of interconnected sections indicated generally at 114, 116. A comparison of section 116 with FIGURE 2 will demonstrate the similarity of section 116 and heater 10. Section 114 is substantially identical to heater 10 except that no independent blower means are provided therefor. To obviate the requirement of a separate blower, sections 114, 116 communicate through a center section denominated generally at 118.

It will be seen that cool air will be drawn through inlet 14 and warmed by metallic conduits 60 overlying heating element 40 with the heated air exiting into hot air compartment 18. Heated air from receptacle 18 will exit through blower means 22 into discharge conduit 96 as previously mentioned. Blower means 22 may be positioned on the right as indicated in FIGURE 5, on the left adjacent the remainder of conduits 60 or between separate conduit means 16.

Heater 110 is equipped with a pair of heat reflectors 12%, 122 positioned between the heating element receiving area and the center of section 118 with reflectors 120, 122 being inclined upwardly and toward the heating element receiving area. Reflectors 120, 122 may be made of any suitable material, but it is preferred that they be made of highly rel ective material, such as burnished aluminum or the like, and are attached to the inner sides of front and rear walls 24, 30 for structural strength. Reflectors 120, 122 act not only to reflect radiant energy but also to deflect or channel heated combustion products toward conduit means 16.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9, there is shown generally at a combination stove and heater assembly having an upper surface 132 in which are positioned a plurality of conventional heating units controlled by retatable knobs 134. Stove 130 includes an oven door 136 having a suitable handle 138 and interiorly carries the customary heating elements 133 (FIG. 9), which may be either electric, gas or butane according to the nature of stove 130. The oven 136' of stove 130 is controlled by another conventional rotatable knob 140 in the conventional manner.

Stove 130 includes a pair of side walls 142, 144, a rear wall 146 and a front panel 148 positioned between control knobs 134, 140 and oven door 136.

A heater shown generally at 150 is coplanar with front panel 148 and includes a pair of hot air outlet means 152 including a louvered circular plate 154 rotatably mounted on front panel 148. Front panel 148 provides a pair of apertures 156 immediately behind circular louvers 154 providing communication between a pair of conduits 158, 160 which are generally oval in cross section having increasing cross sectional areas when approaching outlet apertures 156.

Conduits 158, 160 are connected by a plurality of transverse tubular members 162, 164 to a centrally disposed truncated conical conduit 166 having decreased areas of cross sectional configuration when approaching front panel 48. The rear of conical conduit 166 communicates through rear wall 146 to a blower means shown generally at 168. Each of conduits 158, 160, 162, 164, 166 is of a metallic nature having a high index of thermal conductivity and may be copper, steel or the like. The heating elements of oven 136, when activated by control knob 140, heat each of the aforementioned conduits such that air flowing therethrough will become warmed.

Blower 168 includes a propeller type fan shown generally at 170 mounted in a cylindrical housing 172 having a transverse planarplate 174 'on which a suitable electric motor 176 is secured. Blower means 168 includes a cool air inlet 178 through which air is inducted and forcibly expelled into conduit 166.-

It will be seen that the heating elements 133 of oven 136' act to warm the air passing through heater 150 such that a stream of warm air exits from louvers 154. It should be noted that each of the conduits of heater 150, as well as the conduits of heaters and 110, is substantially unobstructed to provide an eflicient space heater. It should be noted that a timer may readily be operatively associated with control knob 140 and motor 176 to selectively start and stop the operation of heater 150. Stoves are customarily provided with an automatic oven timer which may be connected to electric motor 176 to selectively actuate either the oven 136' of stove 130' or the oven and motor 176 as well.

Referring now to FIGURES 10- to 12 inclusive, a modified form of mounting for a forced air blower is indicated generally at 180 mounted on rear wall 30 of the heaters of FIGURES 1 to 7 inclusive. Mounting 180 is substantially U-shaped in elevation having a first U-shaped planar frame member 182 secured to rear wall 30 by a plurality of frictional fasteners 184, such as screws, rivets or the like, with mounting 180 providing an upper blower receiving opening designated generally at 186. As may be seen most clearly in FIGURES 11 and 12, mounting 180 includes a second U-shaped planar frame member 138 of smaller size than first frame member 182, secured to first frame member 182 and spaced from wall 30 forming a slot for receiving a portion of a forced air blower. As may be seen in FIGURE 10, a pointed protuberance 190- is positioned in the slot formed by first and second frame members 182, 188 adjacent the nadir of mounting 180.

Blower 22 is indicated in dotted lines in FIGURES 11 and 12 and fixedly carries a circular plate 192 forming a central aperture 194. The circumference of plate 192 carries a plurality of teeth 196 forming a plurality of notches 198 therebetween for receiving pointed protuberance 190 as is indicated in FIGURE 10'.

As may be seen in FIGURES 11 and 12, blower 22 covers enlarged central aperture 194 but does not extend to the circumference of plate 192. Accordingly, mounting 180 is secured to rear wall 30 such that central aperture 194 of plate 192 is substantially coaxial with opening 70 in rear wall 30 of the associated heater. As is apparent from the previous description of the heater of the instant invention, blower 22 includes a hot air outlet which may be directionalized to most efiiciently direct warmair within the living area. When it is desired to directionalize the outlet of blower 22 utilizing mounting 180, it is necessary only for an individaul to lift up on blower 22, disengaging protuberance from its associated notch 198, rotate blower 22 to position the outlet in the desired direction, and lower blower 22 such that protuberance 190 engages a different notch 198 precluding inadvertent rotation of blower 22.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved space heater having all of the objects of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the'instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a kitchen stove providing a source of heat energy and a space heater having a frame including cool air inlet means, heated air outlet means, a plurality of metallic conduits communicating between said cool air inlet means and said heated air outlet means, said source of heat energy being closely adjacent said metallic conduits, blower means mounted on said frame for forcibly ejecting heated air from said heater, said blower means being in open communication with said heated'air outlet means and being supported for rotation about said heated air outlet means, and an air discharge nozzle rigid With said blower means and movable therewith to a preselected position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said metallic conduits are unobstructed.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said frame carries at least one heat reflecting member positioned adjacent said open bottom inclined toward said heating element receiving area.

4. The structure of claim 1 said metallic conduits.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said frame forms flue outlets for the escape of combustion products adapted to be vented to the exterior of an enclosure.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein said heated air compartment includes an alternate heated air outlet spaced opposite from said heated air outlet.

7. A space heater comprising a frame having a peripheral bottom edge forming an open bottom, a wall having a cool air inlet, a wall having a heated air outlet, a heated air compartment communicating with said outlet and spaced from said open bottom to provide a bottom compartment, said peripheral bottom edge of said frame being adapted to support said bottom compartment over and in juxtaposition relative to a heat source, heating means including a plurality of metallic conduits communicating between said cool air inlet and said heated air compartment, at least a portion of said conduits being positioned within said bottom compartment for positioning adjacent said heat source, and blower means for forcibly ejecting air from said heated air compartment.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said frame encloses said metallic conduits and said heated air com.- partment.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said heated air compartment includes an alternate heated air outlet spaced opposite from said heated air outlet.

10. The structure of claim 7 wherein said blower means includes an inlet opening in communication with said outlet opening of said space heater, and an outlet opening, said space heater includes means rotatably mounting said wherein said frame encloses blower means together with its outlet opening about said outlet opening of said space heater to direct the hot air discharging from said outlet opening of said blower in a preselected direction.

11. The structure of claim It} wherein said rotatable mounting means includes a circular plate fixedly secured about said inlet opening of said blower, a frame fixedly secured to said wall having said heated air outlet forming a U-shaped slot receiving said circular plate.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein said circular plate forms a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches and said frame carries at least one protuberance residing in one of said notches precluding said blower from inadvertent rotation.

13. In combination, a kitchen stove having an upper surface carrying a plurality of heating units and an oven including heating elements positioned below said heating units, and a space heater having cool air inlet means, a pair of heated air outlet means and at least one metallic conduit positioned between said heating units and said oven in heat receiving relation to said oven heating elements connecting said inlet means to said outlet means, said conduits including a first centrally disposed conduit connected by a plurality of second conduits providing communication to a pair of third conduits laterally spaced from said first conduit in communication with said outlet means.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said first and third conduits are susbtantially parallel lying in a first plane, said first and third conduits terminating in a pair of planes perpendicular to said first plane.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said third conduits increase in cross sectional area toward said outlet means.

16. A space heater comprising a frame having 21 peripheral bottom edge forming an open bottom, a wall having a cool air inlet, a Wall having a heated air outlet, a heated air compartment communicating with said outlet and spaced from said bottom to provide a bottom compartment, said peripheral bottom edge of said frame being adapted to support said bottom compartment over and in juxtaposition relative to a heat source, conduction heating means including a plurality of metallic conduits extending between and having ends in open communication with said cool air inlet and said heated air compartment, at least a portion of said conduits being disposed within said bottom compartment for positioning adjacent said heat source, and blower means for forcibly ejecting heated air from said heated air compartment.

17. A space heater as defined in claim 16 wherein said wall is provided with a second air outlet communicating with said heated air compartment.

18. A space heater as defined in claim 16 wherein said wall is provided with a second air outlet communicating with said heated air compartment, and closure means for said second air outlet, said closure means being mounted on said wall for selected movement towards or away from said second air outlet to open and close the latter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,527 1/1934 Aske 165-67 2,088,280 7/ 1937 Schillinger 126-248 2,216,175 10/1940 Helbing 165-122 X 2,221,647 11/1940 Mooney 126-110 X 2,553,278 5/1951 Rogant 126248 X 2,882,023 4/1959 Rizzo ,.16S39 2,956,734 10/1960 Doyle 230-235 X FREDERICK KETTERER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A KITCHEN STOVE PROVIDING A SOURCE OF HEAT ENERGY AND A SPACE HEATER HAVING A FRAME INCLUDING COOL AIR INLET MEANS, HEATED AIR OUTLET MEANS, A PLURALITY OF METALLIC CONDUITS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID COOL AIR INLET MEANS AND SAID HEATED AIR OUTLET MEANS, SAID SOURCE OF HEAT ENERGY BEING CLOSELY ADJAENT SAID METALLIC CONDUITS, BLOWER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR FORCIBLY EJECTING HEATED AIR FROM SAID HEATER, SAID BLOWER MEANS 